The Department of Agriculture has taken the unusual step of issuing a public statement setting out its reasons for the withdrawal of a license for Monaghan Poultry Products.
In a statement issued this afternoon the Department laid out its reasons for withdrawing the license in relation to the various 1996 EU Fresh Poultrymeat Regulations and goes on to detail what the precise problems with the factory were.
Last night Monaghan Poultry Products laid off its 300 full time staff on a temporary basis after its license was withdrawn on Thursday when the Department deemed the company had failed to address "serious hygiene deficiencies".
Management were today meeting with SIPTU and local TDs in an effort to get the plant operational again.
Managing director Mr Barry McEntee told ireland.comthis morning he had heard nothing from the Department of Agriculture since he received the fax on Thursday withdrawing the licence. He also said the problem areas had been addressed.
However in their statement this afternoon the Department says the plant has several structural defects including the floors being in poor condition and rust on the conveyor equipment while operational problems included poor product handling, the failure to keep the dead birds at the requisite temperature of 4°C and general uncleanliness.
The Department agreed to the re-opening of the plant on a trial basis on Thursday following a suspension on the proceeding Monday the statement said.
"On the basis of the observations made by the Department's two Senior Veterinary Inspectors present, a letter was issued to the company on 23rd August which identified serious hygiene deficiencies detected during the trial. The suspension of production activity was immediately reinstated."
The Department said the resolution of the problems rested in the hands of the company but that "the Department is available at all times to co-operate in any way to achieve this end and to enable the protection of employment at this plant".
Meanwhile SIPTU's Monaghan branch secretary, Mr Jim Mullary, who was meeting with Mr McEntee this afternoon told ireland.comthey would be trying to work out how to make the closure as short as possible at their meeting with management today.
"The company are indicating their commitment to resolving outstanding difficulties, but the Department wants certain conditions met and the company should make every effort to satisfy the department," Mr Mullary said.
The growers, who provided the 180,000 chickens slaughtered at the plant each week, have also been affected by the closure.
The Irish Farmers Association said a gap was developing in the market place for a significant portion of the birds which was only being partly met by alternative outlets.
The IFA warned that without the plant re-opening or alternative production facilities being found the whole production cycle could come to a complete halt over a 10 week period.